Tectonic Plates Flashcards
What are the three layers of the earth?
Crust, Mantle, Core
What are the two types of core of the earth? What are their states?
The inner core (solid) and the outer core (liquid)
What are the two types of tectonic plates?
Continental and Oceanic
What are the properties of a continental plate?
Thicker, older, lighter and does not subduct
What are the properties of an oceanic plate?
Thinner, younger, denser and does subduct
What is the definition of a plate boundary/margin?
The location where two tectonic plates meet or sit next to each other
What causes tectonic plates to move?
Convection currents
Where do convection currents occur?
In the mantle
What are the three types of plate margins?
Constructive, destructive and conservative
What are the plate margins doing at a constructive plate margin?
Moving apart, causing a gap and creating pressure
What are plate margins doing at a destructive plate margin?
The oceanic plate is forced under the continental plate causing pressure and cracks in the plates
What are plate margins doing at a conservative plate margin?
Sliding past each other, causing friction and pressure
What types of plate margins do earthquakes occur on?
All types
What types of plate margins do volcanoes occur on?
Constructive and destructive
On destructive plate margins, what are the properties of volcanoes?
Highly explosive and a lot of lava and sulphur has is released
What are hotspots?
Volcanic like structures that are not found on just plate margins
Where about are hotspots found and how are they formed?
Along the earth’s crust where the mantle below is hotter and bubbles up in the lines of weakness
What is the definition of a volcano?
An opening in the earth’s crust
How are volcanos formed?
When magma rises to the surface
What is the definition of an earthquake?
A sudden violent movement in the earth’s crust
How are earthquakes formed?
A sudden release of tension within the tectonic plates
What are some signs that a volcano is going to erupt?
Small earthquakes, oozing magma and sulphur gas emissions
Where only do earthquakes and volcanoes occur?
Along plate boundaries
What is a benefit of living near a volcano?
The ash that falls makes fertile soil, so places around volcanoes have a higher crop yield
